Interview with Ellie and Hermione Gee of Hum London

Les Interviews / January 20, 2025

Interview with Ellie and Hermione Gee of Hum London

Founded by sisters Ellie and Hermione Gee, Hum London specializes in hand-painted and perforated lampshades that transform any space. Since 2020, the duo has combined thoughtful design and skilled craftsmanship to create lighting that’s as beautiful up close as it is from afar.

Each piece is handmade in the UK by expert artisans, from their Celestial shades with twinkling pinholes to limited-edition designs crafted from antique and vintage fabrics. Their award-winning Prairie collection, made from 18th-century embroidered textiles, is a perfect example of their passion for blending timeless elegance with modern charm.

At Hum London, every lampshade is more than light—it’s a statement.

By Marie Winckler

How has it been working as sisters?

We feel so lucky to be working together - we’ve always been really close and the fact that there are two of us running the business is such a plus as it means we can count on each other when it comes to big decisions. Being sisters means we have a really good understanding of each other's strengths and struggles, and means we can be honest, supportive, and also bounce off one another creatively - something we've been doing since childhood when we would spend our summers dreaming up imaginary projects and interior design schemes for our family home.

In some ways, Hum is an extension of this, as we both found ourselves looking for a creative pastime during lockdown at our Mum’s house, which is where the idea for our business was born.

How did you find the artisans you work with?

There was a lot of searching and visits to workshops up and down the country before we landed on our lovely family run team of lampshade makers, who’ve been mastering their craft for decades. It’s always been important to us to champion British makers and it's lovely to be able to work with people who share our commitment to sustainability and creating things that can be treasured for years to come.

Can you tell us more about lampshades?

Our journey began back in 2020 with a collection of hand painted lampshades created by Hermione. They feature warm colours and a range of designs, from bold stripes and delicate gemstones, to our Celestial lampshades - featuring ethereal illustrations painted in a deep midnight blue and hand-punched holes that gently glow when the shade is illuminated, creating a subtle twinkling in the room. We also offer a bespoke designs service, which can be anything from painting lampshades in alternative colours to entirely new designs.

With a shared love of antiques and giving new life to old treasures, last year marked a new chapter for us: designing limited edition lampshades made from antique and vintage fabrics. The first in this series, the Prairie Lampshades, are crafted from hand embroidered textiles dating back to the 18th century. This collection was awarded the Innovation Award from English Home Magazine for the soft, dappled light that gets cast into a room – a real highlight of 2024!

What’s your best tips for choosing the right one?

In terms of choosing which design to go for - the paint colours on our lampshades are specially curated to be an easy and harmonious addition to all sorts of spaces. And if you’re looking for a more neutral palette, the Juno or Prairie lampshades are perfect for adding texture and pretty details to a room whilst keeping things simple in colour.

Size wise, if you’re in doubt at all, it’s best to err on the bigger side. We recommend playing around with different lampshades you have at home to work out what sort of size you like the proportions of, and go from there! All of our standard lampshades come with a removal reducer ring, which means they’re compatible with British and European lamps (and we do a US version too, for American shoppers).

What does English home style look like to you?

Fresh and cosy, laid back and eclectic. We grew up going to lots of antique and second hand shops so have always loved vintage pieces mixed with new.

What does the word Flâneur mean to you?

I went to university in Paris and remember discussing this expression in one of my seminars. To me, it means meandering through a place with no particular direction. I used to take this quite seriously on my weekends in Paris and often ended up on an entirely different side of the city, always via some sort of flea market or vintage clothes shop.